Interim Bangladeshi govt head Muhammad Yunus warned: AJP states ‘If Indians rise, Bangladesh will cease to exist’

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 1, 2025

“Bangladesh was born out of India’s benevolence. A country that cannot conduct democratic elections on its own, where the Prime Minister flees in fear of mob attacks, has no standing to speak against a powerful nation like India.” This was the strong reaction from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), following recent remarks made by Muhammad Yunus, the interim head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, during his visit to China.

In a press statement today, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan criticized Yunus, stating that Bangladesh, being an ungrateful nation, has even seen its own people vandalizing the statues of their founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

During his recent visit to China, Yunus reportedly referred to India’s northeastern states as a “landlocked area” and suggested that China has opportunities to establish a market in the region.

AJP leaders responded sharply, reminding Bangladesh of its origins in 1971, when it gained independence due to India’s support. They pointed out that just last year, Bangladesh witnessed severe political turmoil that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina into exile, leading to widespread unrest. In the aftermath, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the head of the interim government, which is now grappling with instability and economic stagnation.

Traditionally, every Bangladeshi head of state has chosen India as their first foreign visit, acknowledging the country’s pivotal role in Bangladesh’s democratic survival. However, Yunus’s decision to visit China instead and make provocative statements against India’s northeastern interests has not gone unnoticed.

Reacting to this, AJP leaders stated, “If Muhammad Yunus, sitting under Pakistan’s shadow, thinks he can challenge India, then he is living in a fool’s paradise.”

They further warned, “If India’s 1.4 billion people turn their anger toward Bangladesh, it will be reduced to ashes. India considers Bangladesh as a younger sibling, not as an equal. Yunus should remember this before making reckless statements.”